skip to main content

Hibiscuses Accessible Gardening House Plants

Brown palm leaves

Melynda Hawkins

last year

last modified: last year

Palm with brown leaves is in east facing window. Most of the leaves have turned brown and I'm not sure why. I don't think the soil is dry (doesn't feel like it to the touch). I water it 3 times a week.I've read that I may be under watering. I may be overwatering.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (8)

floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
last year
Can you supply a picture and tell us your location?
Melynda Hawkins
Original Author
last year
I moved it outside for summer, I'm in ohio!
Related Discussions
Palm houseplant brown leaves
Q
Comments (17)
Hi Ellie! You are in great hands here - I love this forum. I am just nosy about something - feel free to tell me to buzz off! Does it say on your plant what kind of palm it is? Because I have a Cat palm that I rescued from the recycle bins in my building, years ago, which came from Ikea, and while I haven't killed it yet, I am not able to keep it happy either. (Botanically it is called a Chamaedorea cataractarum.) It needs more water than I give it, for one thing. Yours looks bigger than mine though so it's probably a different palm. (And I need to repot it, but I have another big repot that is ahead of it in line.) If dryness is really the issue, I too have come across the problem Al mentioned, the hydrophobia issue, where the water doesn't soak into the soil. When that happens, it *looks* like the plant is being watered, but it all just runs right out the pot, instead of being absorbed. One way to tell is by the weight of the pot - is it noticeably heavier after you water? It should be. Anyway, it does sound like you need to put down newspapers and put the plant on its side and ease it out, and look at the roots. However, as to what the roots should look like... I'm not good at that. Anyhow, good luck! I'm sure folks here will get it all sorted out.
...See More
Ponytail Palm brown leaves
Q
Comments (22)
Kate - I think it's the right choice to leave the brown ends and roots until spring. Just discard the completely dry leaves to keep the plant tidy and let the drying ones take care of themselves. It's riskier to repot now and while the palm isn't in optimal health there doesn't seem any danger of it dying. Lots of time left in winter to research root pruning, getting the right tools, and maybe even considering a better mix. In spring you will probably need sturdy chopsticks (I like metal ones), pruners (sharp, double bladed kind), hose sprayer, and a helping hand to do the job. There is a great deal of helpful threads in the Houzz/Gardenweb Container Forum about this topic. Lots of people in this forum frequent that one too and are very experienced growers. =)
...See More
Majesty Palm Brown and yellow leaves
Q
Comments (0)
I just bought this beautiful Majesty Palm for my son. It seemed to be very dry when I got it. So I watered it once. And put mulch on top. How do I get rid of the brown and yellow leaves? I prunes two of them. Not sure how to make it happy from here.
...See More
Ponytail Palm Losing Leaves and Browning
Q
Comments (16)
I'll 2nd petrushka's advice. Ponytail palms are slow growing plants, so it's going to take some time to recover. The best place for it right now is somewhere outdoors in a brightly lit, shaded location. I just spent some time repotting one of my smaller ponytails. Luckily, I took a a few photos along the way. Hopefully, it gives a good example of what a healthy plant with healthy roots looks like... Usually, I'd pull off any dead foliage from my ponytails as they send out new growth, but with this one, I decided to leave it as it is, to give it a more natural appearance. To make it easier to handle during the repotting, I laid the plant on its side and "combed" the leaves up and tied the leaves temporarily together to keep them up and out of the way. Once I was finished, I just cut the ties and combed the leaves back out. Ponytail palms actively grow during the spring and summer months. During this time, they need both water and sunlight in order to grow properly. I don't even really care for my ponytails anymore. I move them outdoors in the early half of spring and ignore them for the most part until it's time to move them back indoors. When autumn arrives, any new growth is fully formed and has had sufficient time to completely harden off. Ponytail palms are no longer growing during this time, so both water and sunlight aren't as necessary. My ponytails get moved back indoors before the weather gets too cold for them outside, and they spend the winter indoors where they'll probably get watered once a month. Any more than that and they'll try sending out new growth before spring has arrived. That new foliage won't grow like it should, and you'll encounter a whole new set of problems.
...See More
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
last year
hi
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
last year
looks like you sunburned it ... all houseplants go out into full bright shade or else they do this ..

the lower stuff looks like the oldest fronds.. those are shed cyclically;... just prune out the oldest fronds.... see if the overall look improves..

i think you might be seriously over watering the plant... take a table or tea spoon.. and dig down halfway in the pot.. AND FIND OUT HOW WET IT IS.. DOWN WHERE the roots are .. then water accordingly ..

you may have it is water laden.. it might not need water for a month ... but the brown is going to drive you crazy.. and make you want to water it even more ...

and therein lies the rub.. as they say..

learn how to water properly.. both indoors and outside.. there will be different methods... and then just have faith

are you new to these plants??

ken
Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
last year
If it's a clay pot, watering that often could be needed. With a clay pot, it's not really necessary to go digging around just to decide if your plant needs water. If the soil is moist, the pot will feel cool and damp. If the soil is dry, the pot will feel dry and warmer. The breathable clay eliminates so much of the worry about overwatering, just monitor to make sure that it doesn't get so dry that the clay turns a lighter color. When you bring it inside for winter, depending on the type of heat you use, whether or not it makes the air really dry, moisture use could slow - or even increase. If your hair has static, soil in a clay pot will dry surprisingly quickly.

In my experience having the same little palms around for a few decades, starting in OH and now in AL, and doing the seasonal in/out thing, there's not much to be gained by easing them out into the sun. Sure, they can adapt to having brutal AL sun shining right on them at 1 PM, but It takes so long, most of the season, I've usually just burned a lot of leaves, they get sooty mold under the trees, and they grow just fine in the shade of a covered porch. Seems to be more cons than pros on this one for me.
Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
last year
Now that's some professional spam.
rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
last year
Tiffany, if you feel like it you can flag an annoying spammer and get it removed. Just click on the little flag in the box. I hate spam. 👺
Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
last year
Thank you. It looks like somebody did and it's gone.

Related Stories

HOUSEPLANTS Got Bright Light but Lack Spare Time? Try Ponytail Palm

By creative jewish mom.com

This low-maintenance houseplant has an exotic look and a drought-tolerant nature. Just give it lots of sun

HOUSEPLANTS Meet a Palm That's Fine With Fluorescent Light

By creative jewish mom.com

Get the look of the tropics without the full-on sun and high humidity — parlor palm tolerates regular indoor conditions with aplomb

DECORATING GUIDES Palm Trees Take Interiors on a Tropical Vacation

By Samantha Schoech

Conjure a sultry vibe or bring welcome life to modern rooms. Whatever your interior design style, palm trees are the ticket to enhancing it

COLOR Fall on the Wall: Decorating With Rich Reds, Browns and Oranges

By Jennifer Ott Design

For your interiors, take a cue from nature’s colorful seasonal offerings

BROWN Color Guide: How to Work With Brown

By Samantha Schoech

It's all over nature and the decorating world too. From light latte to dark walnut, there's a brown for everyone

DECORATING GUIDES Inspired by Fall: Reds, Oranges and Browns at Home

By Shawn Gauthier

Add just an accent or rake in the color with shades of autumn all over the house

GARDENING GUIDES Celebrate the Browns, Tans and Golds of Fall and Winter Gardens

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

When designing gardens for cold weather, use plants with these subtle hues for visual interest

TREES Great Design Plant: Sabal Palm Enchants in Balmy Sites

By Steve Asbell

Towering and tolerant, this tree blends in, stands out and happily stars in vacation photos

MODERN HOMES Houzz Tour: A Palm Springs Midcentury Home With Central American Flair

By Bryan Anthony

A couple’s desert oasis home takes its style cues and color inspiration from Guatemala

MIDCENTURY HOMES Midcentury Exterior Charm in Las Vegas’ Paradise Palms

By Margaret Wright Photography

A midtown neighborhood is a treasure-trove of 1960s architecture and vibrant curb appeal

Sponsored

Mosaic Design Studio

Creating Thoughtful, Livable Spaces For You in Franklin County